Visitor with alleged fake identity, charged with giving false info to obtain BVI visa

A Dominican Republic man was denied bail at the Magistrate’s Court after he allegedly provided falsified information to obtain a British Virgin Islands visa.

Charged with personation, possession of an irregular document, and giving false information to a person employed in public office is Victor Pimedo Santos.

He was not made to plead when he appeared before Magistrate Ayanna Baptiste-DaBreo recently.

Allegations

The court heard that on January 15 this year, a BVI visa application containing false information was submitted for Santos.

Prosecutors said his document indicated that he had never travelled outside of the Dominican Republic, he never previously held a passport, nor has he had any previous convictions. As such the visa was granted to the accused.

The court heard that on February 12, Santos travelled to the territory via the TB Lettsome International Airport. During a search of his luggage, documents bearing the name of ‘Angel Louis Dias Roman’ were allegedly uncovered.

It is alleged that among those documents were a US driver’s license, a Puerto Rican birth certificate and bank cards bearing the aforesaid Puerto Rican name, which was his fake identity.

He was subsequently denied entry and immediately arrested. During an interview with police, the accused allegedly confessed that he had been to St Maarten and the US Virgin Islands via similar illegal means.

The court heard that he also told police that he withheld that and other information when he applied for a BVI visa application. It is alleged that he further admitted that the fake name on the documents in question was illegally obtained so he could live and work in the aforementioned countries.

He also confessed to previously owning a passport but denied having a criminal record, the court was told.

Criminal history

However, it is alleged that an investigation was launched and local authorities uncovered that the accused was deported twice – in 2012 and in 2013 – from a United States territory.

His criminal record showed that he was allegedly caught trafficking drugs, selling drugs near a school, possession and sale of narcotics, endangering life, shoplifting, and petty larceny.

Bail denied

In light of his reported criminal past, and the likelihood of him fleeing based on what is alleged to be his knowledge of entering a country through its backways, prompted the court to deny the accused man bail. The court was also told that the man’s true identity is still being investigated.

His matter was adjourned to March 7.